Instrument for readjusting clinical thermometers.



PATENTED DEC. 4, 1906.

J. PETERSON. INSTRUMENT FOR RBADJUSTING CLINICAL THERMOMETBRS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED OCT. 10. 1904.

@uwutoz witnesses UNITED STA ES JENS PETERSQN, OF TACOMA, W'ASHING'ION.

INSTRUMENT FOR READJUSTING CLlNlCAL THERMOMETERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1906.

Application filed October 10, 1904. serial K012185153.

To all 20.5mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jens PETERSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of \Vashington,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Instruments forReadjust ing Clinical Thermometers; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and

- exact description of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in instruments for readjustingclinical thermometers, and is more especially designed as an improvement11 on that form of such do vices illustrated, escribed, and claimed inUnited States Letters Patent No. 785,635, granted to me March 21, 1905.

The object of the present invention is the provision of an instrument ofthe class described designed primarily for pocket use, so thatphysicians and others employing clinical thermometers may convenientlycarry the same, the instrument performing the function also of a casefor the thermometer.

The invention also contemplates the provision of an instrument of thecharacter stated which is so constructed as to be readily collapsed forinsertion into a pocket and to remain so until required for use, thusadapting the instrument to occupy but mink mum s ace and preventing thesame becoming bu ky and unwieldy when in the pocket.

With these general objects in view and others which will appear as thenature of the improvements is better understood the invention consists,substantially, in the novel construction, combination, and arrangementof parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

While the form of the invention herein shown and described is what isbelieved to be a preferable embodiment thereof, it will of course beunderstood that the invention is susceptible of various changes in theform, proportion, and minor details of construction, and the right istherefore reserved to vary or modify the invention as falls within thespirit and scope thereof.

In the drawings, Figure I is a side elevation of an instrumentconstructed in accordance with the resent invention and illustrated inits co lapsed position. Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at right anglesto Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, theinstrument being extended as when in use. Fig. 4 is a sectional planview on the line 4 4, Fig. I. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5 5,Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the carrier of theherein-described instrument, which carrier is in the form of a tube,preferably of metal, having its lower end permanently closed and itsupper end open and into which is fitted a cap 2. To the cap 2, ifdesired, a clinical thermometer may be attached, so that with theremoval of the cap the thermometer will also be removed. The carrier 1thus performs the function of-a case for the thermometer, and whetherattached to the cap 2 or separated therefrom it is obvious that thethermometer may be readily removed when required for use. It is obvious,however, that the cap 2 retains the thermometer in position within thecarner.

Extending longitudinally of the carrier 1 is an elongated slot 3,through which a pin 4 passes, said pin being arranged in a head 5,located at one end of a stem 6, and upon which stem the carrier 1 isslidably mounted, as will presently appear. Arranged at the inner end ofthe pin 4 is a fastening-plate 7, which conforms to the contour of theinterior of the carrier 1, and through the medium of the fastening-plateY the head 5 is maintained in close relation with the carrier 1, butenabling a free sliding motion between these parts.

Adjacent to the upper end of the carrier 1 is an exterior flange 8,through which the stem 6 freely slides, and said flange, coacting withthe head 5, limits movement of the carrier upon said stem. The flange 8also guides the carrier 1 in its movements upon the stem 6.

Pivotally connected to the upper end of the stem 6 is a handle 9, havinga rotatable sieevc 1O thereon, and said handle is providcdwith abifurcated head 11, which receives the end of the stem 6 and in whichsaid end is pivoted. It will be observed, however, that the head I I hasa. pair of parallel lugs l2, which lugs 12 in the colla sed position ofthe instrument and when the cap 2 is placed in the open end of thecarrier rest against the side of the cap 2, thus locking the handle 9 ina position parallel with the stem i and carrier 1. This prevents thehandle being swung upon the stem until the latter is moved a sufficientdistance to clear the lugs of the cap 2. The locking of the handle, asnoted, also enables the instrument when collapsed to occupy 'onlyminimum space and prevents it becoming bulky and unwieldy in a pocket.

In the use of the present invention the normal position of the same isillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and if the carrier is em loyed as a casefor the thermometer it is 0 vious that the thermometer is containedwithin the carrier. In this position the lugs 12 contact with the cap 2and prevent the handle 9 swinging upon the same. When, however, thethermometer has been used and it is desired to restore its mercurialcolumn to its normal or contracted position, the stem 6 is slid alongthe carrier 1 until the lugs 12 are moved beyond the cap 2, when thehandle 9 is moved to the osition shown in Fig. 3. The thermometeriiaving been placed within the carrier 1, a whirling motion is impartedto the stem, and immediately the carrier 1 slides to the position shownin Fig. 3, at which point the same is limited in its sliding movementthrough the medium of the head 5 contacting with the flange S. Thewhirling motion being continued, the mercury in the thermometer iscaused to resume its normal or contracted position through centrifu galforce, as is obvious, and when this has been accomplished the whirlingmotion is stopped and the parts caused to assume their relativepositions, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. An instrument of the class described, comprising a stem, a tubularcarrier slidably mounted on said stem, said carrier being adapted tomove upon the stem under the influence of centrifugal force induced by awhirling action imparted to the instrument from said stem, said carrierbeing provided with a flange through which said stem passes, said flangeguiding the carrier in its movements upon said stem, a head carried bysaid stem and cooperating with said flange for limiting movement of thecarrier upon said stem, and means for holding a thermometer in saidcarrier.

2. An instrument of the class described, comprising a handle, a stempivotally connected thereto, a tubular carrier slidably mounted uponsaid stem and auaptcd to move thereon under the influence of centrifugalforce induced by a whirling action imparted to the instrument from saidhandle, said carrier being provided with a longitudinally-extendingslot, a pin carried by said stem and extending through said slot, saidcarrier also having a flange through which said stem passes, said flangeguiding the carrier in its movement upon said stem, a head carried bysaid stem and cooperatin with said flange for limiting movement of t ecarrier upon said stem, and means for holding a thermometer in saidcarrier.

3. An instrument of the class described, comprising a handle, a stempivotally connected thereto and provided with a head, a tubular carrierslidably mounted upon said stem and adapted to move thereon under theinfluence of centrifugal force induced by a whirlin action imparted tothe instrument from sai handle, said carrier being provided with alongitudinally-extending slot, a pin carried by said stem and extendingthrough said slot, means for holding the carrier upon said pin, and aflange carried by said tubular carrier and coacting with the head of thestem for limiting movement of the carrier upon said stem.

4. An instrument of the class described, comprising a handle providedwith a bifurcated head, said head having a air of parallel locking-lugs,a stem pivotal y connected in said head, a tubular carrier slidablymounted upon said stem and adapted to move thereon under the influenceof centrifugal force induced by a whirling action imparted to theinstrument from said handle, and a cap for closing said carrier, thelocking-lugs of said handle, when the instrument is collapsed, lyingparallel with said cap, and preventing the handle swinging upon saidstem until the latter is moved beyond said cap.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JENS PETERSON.

Witnesses:

A. A. KNIGHT S. E. CROCKER.

